07/12/2024
The sun is shining, and so are you! ✨ This weekend only, take 20% off your jewelry purchase. Stop in store today to see what’s new!
These Calao Ombre Capiz Drop Earrings are handcrafted in the Philippines by artisans with SAFFY Inc.
Ten Thousand Villages of Alexandria
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Ten Thousand Villages Alexandria
Northern Virginia's oldest Fair Trade Store. Located on King Street
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07/11/2024
Feeling tense or stressed? Why not treat yourself to a relaxing chair massage from The Garden Wellness Center? Stop by the shop this to meet one of the center's massage therapists and find out how they can help you feel your best.
Click here for more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/relax-with-the-garden-wellness-center-tickets-942856327657?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl.
07/09/2024
Here comes the sun(flower)!🌻 These incredible Crochet Flower Earrings and Bracelet are crafted by women in Turkey working with Bombyx Mori.
Beautiful, ethical, and on sale-what more could you ask for? This weekend, save 20% on all jewelry, including clearance!
07/04/2024
Wishing everyone a safe and happy 4th of July! In honor of Independence Day, we will be closing at 4pm.
07/01/2024
Where's Waldo? This July, he's in Alexandria!
From July 1 to July 31, Hooray For Books! will be hosting their scavenger hunt! To start your search, pick up a stamp card at any participating business. Find Waldo in at least 10 different stores to be eligible for prizes! Learn more at https://www.hooray4books.com/calendar/2024/7/1/find-waldo-local-begins.
Here's Waldo hitching a ride on one of our galimotos! Who knows where he's off to next...
06/25/2024
Calling all cat lovers!! Don't miss the Homeward Trails Animal Rescue Kitten Scavenger Hunt, happening this Saturday!
What is a kitten scavenger hunt? Around 6 stores in Old Town will host a minimum of 2 kittens so that people can meet adoptable kittens.
How it works:
Participants will start at The Dog Park (705 King St), where they will receive a flyer with a map of Old Town and clues for participating stores. When participants find the kittens, a volunteer at each store will stamp their flyer. Visit every store on the list for the chance to be enrolled in a raffle and win prizes!
06/21/2024
We're happy to announce that on Sunday, June 30, we'll be hosting our Donate to Reintegrate fundraiser for the Association of Albanian Girls and Women - AAGW! Please join us in supporting this incredible organization by donating pieces of jewelry, which will then be resold. The proceeds will go towards providing critical resources for survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence.
Founded in 2003 by human trafficking survivors, AAGW is a nonprofit organization that provides educational, emotional, and vocational support to s*x trafficking and domestic violence survivors in Albania. While AAGW relies heavily on donations, survivors also create and sell beautiful handmade jewelry, which you can find in our store.
In addition to the fundraiser, Amy of AAGW will be presenting an informational seminar about the organization. Sign up now to learn more about their life-changing work: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/donate-to-reintegrate-with-the-aagw-seminar-tickets-920318045047?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl.
06/20/2024
To celebrate this World Refugee Day, we're teaming up with Homes Not Borders! Homes Not Borders is a Maryland-based nonprofit that seeks to provide refugees in the D.C. area with everything they need to thrive in their new lives. In addition to collecting donations, they support refugee artisans through their New Neighbor Designs program.
Swing by the shop tomorrow from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm to browse beautiful handmade home decor, jewelry, and more!
06/18/2024
Our Alpaca Guinea Pigs are BACK-and they've brought along some new friends!
Add a dash of cuteness to your life with our new Alpaca Rabbit and Alpaca Dog! Lovingly made with the softest alpaca wool, they're the perfect snuggle buddies. Need proof? Here's one of our guinea pigs hanging out with her new friend (and IRL twin) Clover, who belongs to our staff member Shannon.
All of our alpaca animals are made in Peru by artisans working with Minga Fair Trade.
06/10/2024
Still looking for that special gift for Dad? We've got you covered! Starting this Friday, get 25% OFF the perfect present.
Handcrafted by artisans in India working with Noah's Ark, this bicycle pizza cutter is a fun gift for pizza fans and bike lovers alike! Noah's Ark provides health and education assistance, clean water, capacity building programs and more to artisans and their families.
05/30/2024
Wondering how much rain we've gotten in the past few days? Sounds like you could use a rain gauge! Both beautiful and functional, our Indira Cast Iron Rain Gauge is the perfect addition to any garden.
This rain gauge is handcrafted by artisans in India working with Noah's Ark. The organization is made up of two parts: a for-profit business Noah's Ark International Exports and a nonprofit (Noah's Ark Handicrafts & Artisan Welfare Society). The nonprofit provides health and education assistance, clean water, capacity building programs and more to artisans and their families.
05/27/2024
This Memorial Day, we remember and honor those who gave their lives for our country.
05/23/2024
Happy World Turtle Day! Isn’t this Tanak Turtle Planter adorable?
World Turtle Day was created in order to raise awareness about the illegal pet trade, live food markets, and habitat destruction. To , we‘d like to highlight these turtle socks from Maggie's Organics! For each purchase, Maggie’s donates 10% to Center for Biological Diversity.
05/22/2024
Today is our founder Edna Ruth Byler's birthday!
Edna Ruth Byler was a pioneer of the fair trade movement and a powerful force for good. Decades after her death, her impact continues to reverberate around the world. You can read more about Edna's work at https://www.tenthousandvillages.com/pages/history.
In 2013, we set up a birthday photo booth in the store and encouraged people to "party like Edna". Check out a few of the pics from that birthday celebration! You might even recognize two familiar faces who are still working at the store today!
05/20/2024
Meet our new intern, Parker!
Parker joins us as part of the Senior Learning Experience at Alexandria City High School, a program that allows students to participate in an internship or service project during the last two weeks of their senior year.
Parker's favorite items:
- Organic Classic Milk Chocolate (43% cacao) by Equal Exchange (Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, Peru, and Togo)
- Raspberry Gummy Fish by Women's Bean Project (USA)
- East Africa by Level Ground (Great Rift Valley)
- Ethiopia by Level Ground (Ethiopia)
Are you a student interested in volunteering at our store? Know someone else who might be interested? Feel free to reach out! We're happy to work with seniors looking for a Senior Learning Experience opportunity, and we're also always looking for new volunteers.
05/12/2024
Happy Mother’s Day!
05/11/2024
🎉🎉In honor of World Fair Trade Day tomorrow, we're hosting a GIVEAWAY!!
Sign up tomorrow in store for your chance to win seven amazing products with a combined value of $200!
Products included:
- Reusable Makeup Remover Rounds by TARA Projects, India (India)
- RELAX Aromatherapy Body Oil by Nature's Essentials (Ghana)
- HOPE Candle Tin by Kin & Care (USA)
- Exfoliating Face Mitt by Sana Hastakala (Nepal)
- Patchwork Cotton Eye Pillow by Mahaguthi Craft With Conscience (Nepal)
- Slow Beauty Ritual for Combination Skin by Katari (Egypt and Tunisia)
- Hogla Basket Bowl (SM) by Prokritee (Bangladesh)
05/07/2024
We'd like to wish all the teachers out there a Happy National Teacher Day! Thank you so much for all that you do. ❤
These Super Teacher String Doll Keychains are made in Thailand by Kamibashi Asian Art. Each Kamibashi keychain has a special "superpower." These two have the power to "save the world one student at a time"-and that couldn't be more true. We hope for a world in which teachers around the globe are properly appreciated and compensated for their essential work.
05/06/2024
Give the gift of handcrafted elegance! ✨ Stop in to discover what’s new for Mother’s Day-like this gorgeous Celestial Silver Marquise Bracelet. We also have a matching ring and necklace to complete the set.
Visit us this Friday through Sunday and take 20% off your purchase of $50+!
This jewelry is made in Peru by artisans working with Allpa. Allpa comes from a Quechua word meaning "earth." This Peruvian craft trading company provides marketing assistance, technical help, product development advice, skills training and tools to artisan groups and family workshops throughout Peru.
05/02/2024
Tomorrow, we’re excited to welcome back Elsa Riveros for another Festive Friday! Hope to see you there!
04/25/2024
Another of our awesome volunteers is Julie! Julie has been volunteering with us since the early 2000s, back when our store was at our original location at 824 King St! She's also a member of our managing board.
Julie says:
"My favorite thing about volunteering at Ten Thousand Villages is talking to our customers, sharing information about our handicrafts and the talented artisans who make them. Now and then I hear a customer tell another customer what they have learned, and then I know I’ve done my job!"
Thank you, Julie!!
Julie is wearing our Retro Dress in the pattern Brambles Olive. This dress is made of hand-batiked cotton from Ghana and comes to us from Global Mamas!
Interested in volunteering with us? Email our Volunteer Coordinator at [email protected] to get started!
04/24/2024
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. On the last Wednesday of April, we observe Denim Day. On this day, thousands of people around the globe wear jeans in order to raise awareness and show solidarity with survivors of s*xual violence. You can learn more about the origins of and why we wear denim in particular by visiting Peace Over Violence or https://denimday.org/.
Today, we want to highlight our partnership with the Association of Albanian Girls and Women - AAGW. Founded in 2003 by human trafficking survivors, AAGW is a nonprofit organization that provides educational, emotional, and vocational support to s*x trafficking and domestic violence survivors in Albania. While AAGW relies heavily on donations, survivors also create and sell beautiful handmade jewelry, which you can find in our store. The proceeds from these sales help support survivors and their children in their reintegration journey.
For more information about AAGW, visit https://www.aagw.org/.
04/23/2024
To start off Volunteer Appreciation Week, we'd like to introduce you to Lisa!
Lisa says:
"I have volunteered at Ten Thousand Villages for about 6 months and love it. I had shopped here for years and it’s nice to finally give back. This was always my go-to place to buy gifts. I was in the Peace Corps and totally connect to the mission of the store. My only issue is not buying it all!"
Lisa's favorites:
• Purple Rain by JusTea (Kenya)
• Face Massage Stone Set by TARA Projects, India (India)
• Moisture Pink Clay Shampoo Bar by Palam Rural Centre (India)
• Ray of Sunshine Necklace by Andean Collection (Ecuador)
• Mexican Hot Chocolate by Moka Origins (Ghana)
• Gluten-Free Cornbread Mix by Women's Bean Project (US)
• Sun Swirl Basket by Uganda Crafts 2000 Ltd. (Uganda)
Thanks, Lisa!
Interested in volunteering with us? Email our Volunteer Coordinator at [email protected] to get started!
04/23/2024
This National Volunteer Appreciation Week, we’d like to say a huge THANK YOU to all our volunteers, both past and present. This week and every week, we are so thankful for everyone who has donated their time to further our mission. As a nonprofit, we rely heavily on volunteers and we couldn’t do this work without you! We certainly couldn‘t have made it to the incredible milestone of 30 years! It truly does take a village, and we’re so grateful for ours.
Interested in volunteering with us? Email our Volunteer Coordinator at [email protected] to get started!
04/22/2024
This little birdie wants to wish you a happy Earth Day!
At Ten Thousand Villages, we strive to make every day Earth Day.
Many of our products, including this Sunny Garden Birdhouse, are made from recycled and sustainably sourced materials. Woven from wire and recycled snack wrappers, this gem is a great way to take care of our feathered friends and protect our planet from waste in one fell swoop (pun intended)! Each one-of-a-kind piece is handcrafted by artisans in India working with Noah's Ark International Exports.
The bird currently calling this birdhouse home is sustainably made as well! It hails from Zimbabwe, where metal artisans working with Swahili Modern turn discarded oil drums and other recycled metal pieces into art.
04/17/2024
This weekend, we're letting the dogs out!
The ALX Dog Walk is this Saturday!! If you haven't registered yet, don't wait-spots are filling up fast! Register now at http://www.alxdogwalk.com/register.
No dog? No problem! With the Sustainability Festival, a bake sale, kids activities, prizes, music and more, there's sure to be something for everyone.
Pictured: A cute Ecru Elephant (created by artisans working with Sasha Fair Trade) out for a stroll with a few of our Kamibashi Asian Art String Doll keychains.
04/16/2024
Transform your daily skincare routine with our new line of products from Katari Beauty!
Katari works with artisans in Egypt and Tunisia and uses locally sourced ingredients. In addition to being fair trade, Katari products are cruelty-free, vegan, and packaged in hand-blown glass bottles to cut down on plastic waste.
A quote from our staff member Courtney: "It leaves my skin soft and radiant. I noticed an improvement in my skin texture after a few uses. The black seed oil has helped with blackheads on my nose. Plus, the geranium toner, rose oil, and pomegranate oil smell amazing!"
04/13/2024
Our staff has spoken! These stunning earrings, necklace, and bracelet are their top picks for April. Come snag these beauties before they're gone!
From left to right:
• Mother of Pearl Teardrop Earrings by Fair Anita (Mexico)
• Shirisha Brass Drop Earrings by Nepal Knotcraft Centre (Nepal)
• Alba Five Strand Seed & Pearl Necklace by Andean Collection (Ecuador)
• Parat Drop Earrings by TARA Projects, India
• Kunduz Hoops by Turquoise Mountain (Afghanistan)
• Mau Bangle by Viet Horn (Vietnam)
Displayed on the Dekhana Mango Wood Mirror Shelf - Multi by Asha Handicrafts Association (India).
04/09/2024
There's less than two weeks left until the third annual ALX Dog Walk!! We're happy to announce that in addition to being a sponsor for this paw-some event, we'll also be participating in the first ever Sustainability Festival!
The ALX Dog Walk, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, organizes an annual dog walk event in Old Town to build community, have a barking good time, and raise funds that help to spread the word about the importance of plastic-free and sustainable living throughout the DMV region.
This year, ALX Dog Walk is inviting 25 organizations to host tables and share their sustainable products and services with the community. We can't wait to see you there!
One of the products we'll be showcasing are these Eco Friendly Wool Dryer Balls! An adorable alternative to dryer sheets, they'll help you reduce waste AND drying time. Our dryer balls are made by artisans in Nepal working with New SADLE. New SADLE is a training and employment program for artisans who have had leprosy or polio, who have other disabilities, or who are socially disadvantaged. The organization offers free medical treatment and rent and childcare allowances.
03/30/2024
Our store will be closed tomorrow so that our staff can celebrate the holiday with their families. We'll see you on Monday!
Address
915 King Street
Alexandria, VA
22314
Opening Hours
| Monday | 10am - 7pm |
| Tuesday | 10am - 7pm |
| Wednesday | 10am - 7pm |
| Thursday | 10am - 7pm |
| Friday | 10am - 7pm |
| Saturday | 10am - 7pm |
| Sunday | 11am - 5pm |
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Transform your shopping experience with these beautiful bags made from recycled plastic! Crafted in India, these bags are woven from upcycled plastic bags. The plastic bags are first cut into strips and then spun on a traditional charkha spinning wheel. After that, they are woven into fabric on a handloom and sewn into designs. #villages_alx #tenthousandvillages #fairtrade #livelifefair #plasticfreejuly #alexandriava #oldtownalexandria
Can you believe July is just around the corner? Here's a sneak peek at next month's collection 👀☀️ #tenthousandvillages #villages_alx #fairtrade #livelifefair #jewelry #newarrivals #julycollection #alexandriava #oldtownalexandria
Happy Pride!! 🎉 🏳️🌈 Show your pride all year long with these socks from Conscious Step! A portion of each sale goes to The Trevor Project, which provides free and confidential services for LGBTQ+ young people. #fairtrade #villages_alx #LiveLifeFair #pride #lgbtq #mentalhealth #alexandriava #oldtownalexandria
Happy World Fair Trade Day!! Anna Lappe once said, "Every time you spend money, you are casting a vote for the kind of world you want." When you buy fair trade products, you are voting for a world where every artisan is fairly compensated for the incredible work that they do; a world where communities have the resources they need to grow and thrive. Here are quotes from a few of our artisan partners about what this work means to them. #villages_alx #tenthousandvillages #fairtrade #shopfairtrade #LiveLifeFair #WorldFairTradeDay #WorldFairTradeDay2024
Spring has (almost) sprung and flowers are popping up everywhere-even in our shop! We're not florists, but we can promise you a beautiful bouquet that will never fade. Our sari flowers are each made from recycled fabric from different dresses, making each flower one of a kind 🤗💐 These flowers were made by artisans working with Prokritee! This women-led enterprise is dedicated to creating safe, sustainable jobs for women in rural Bangladesh who seek to improve their livelihood. With the goal of self-reliance, Prokritee uses handicraft skills to transform low-income communities into ones that grow generational prosperity. They strive to keep waste out of waterways and landfills by using renewable and sustainable materials such as recycled sari fabric, eco-friendly dyes, and tree-free water hyacinth paper. 🌸 Fun fact: Prokritee means "nature" in Bengali! #villages_alx #tenthousandvillages #fairtrade #livelifefair #sustainable #recycledart #flowers #foreverflowers #oldtownalexandria #alexandriava #spring #prokritee
#festivefriday #friday #livemusic
Happening next weekend!! Take 30% OFF winter wear and an extra 30% OFF ALL clearance items, including clothing, jewelry, decorations and more! #alxwarehousesale #villages_alx #tenthousandvillages #fairtrade #LiveLifeFair #sale #shoplocal #alexandriava #oldtownalexandria
Guess who's turning 30? We are!!! Thank you all for all your love and support-we couldn't have made it to this milestone without you! Although we don't *technically* turn 30 until October, we're kicking off our celebrations early with a walk down memory lane. Tune in on #ThrowbackThursdays to see how we've grown and changed over the years. A rundown of today's pics: 1) Our original location at 824 King St, under the name "Self Help Crafts of the World". 2) Our reopening ceremony in 2002, featuring major renovations and a 3) New name! 4) Mayor Bill Euille cutting the ribbon at the grand opening of our new (and current) location at 915 King St. 5) The store today. Here's to many more years🥂 #villages_alx #tenthousandvillages #30andthriving #oldtownalexandria #alexandriava
Find a makeup bag that's as beautiful as you are! Our quilted, hand-batiked bags are the perfect size to hold all of your beauty essentials. They're also one of a kind-so if you love this one, don't wait! #villages_alx #fairtrade #LiveLifeFair #batik #ghanaian #makeup #makeupbag #oldtownalexandria #alexandriava
Two great opportunities this week! Support The Twig Thrift Shop and Girls Gotta Run Foundation, Inc. by shopping fair trade! 20% of your purchases will be donated to help continue the work they do in our community and abroad. #LiveLifeFair #communitysupport #ShopSmall
Happening today!! Stop by Ten Thousand Villages for our Annual Sip and Shop, hosted by the Board of Directors of Ten Thousand Villages Alexandria. Enjoy light refreshments, sustainable wine from Wine Gallery 108 and ample holiday cheer! #tenthousandvillages #villages_alx #winegallery108 #fairtrade #LiveLifeFair #holiday #sipandshop #oldtownalexandria #alexandriava
Happening TODAY from 7-8PM!! Stop by to learn about sustainability and hear about the incredible work of ALX Dog Walk and Project Second Chance. Walk-ins welcome! #LiveLifeFair #fairtrade #tenthousandvillages #villages_alx #projectsecondchance #alxdogwalk #sustainability #oldtownalexandria #alexandriava
Our biggest sale of the year is BACK!! 🎉🎉 Indulge sustainably with ethical gifts for everyone on your list, now at their lowest prices of the season. The weather outside may be frightful, but our Animal Winter Hats are delightful! Made in the Andes Mountains by indigenous Aymara and Quechua artisans, these cute critters will keep you feeling warm and cozy all winter long. #LiveLifeFair #tenthousandvillages #villagesalx #sale #fairtrade #fairtradefashion #alexandriava #oldtownalexandria
Going trick-or-treating tonight? Take a Vampire with you! 🧛♂️🧛♀️ This fanged fiend promises to protect from harm when you're out past your bedtime. If the Vampires aren't for you, don't worry--we have plenty of other characters, each with their own unique superpower. Your future sidekick is waiting for you! Our String Dolls are made in Thailand by artisans working with Kamibashi Asian Art Each is made with one continuous piece of string and then accessories are added on. Happy Halloween!! 🎃 #tenthousandvillages #villagesalx #fairtrade #livelifefair #stringdolls #alexandriava #oldtownalexandria #Halloween
20% off all of our ethically handcrafted ornaments ends today!! Don't miss your chance to catch what's new at a special price. Come on in and find your new favorite ornament today! #tenthousandvillages #fairtrade #LiveLifeFair #ornaments #sale #alexandriava #oldtownalexandria #VillagesALX
Watch our store transform as we roll out our 12th Annual Rug Event!! From Thursday through Sunday, browse beautiful, hand-knotted rugs from Pakistan, brought to you by Bunyaad. Bunyaad means "foundation" in Urdu. When you purchase a fairly traded Bunyaad rug, you not only acquire a beautiful piece of functional art, you also support lives, culture and education in Pakistan. Paying artisans fair wages for their work enables them to build strong foundations on which their families and communities can thrive. ❤️ #fairtrade #tenthousandvillages #villagesalx #bunyaad #bunyaadrugs #alexandriava #oldtownalexandria #livelifefair #rugsale
Wishing everyone a safe and happy 4th! We're open 10am-3pm today! #LiveLifeFair #ACapitalFourth #fourthofjuly
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